Altri Tempi

Those were other times (from another world)
other were the memories (times not long ago)
in our pockets, no money (it seemed like a game)
that was life

Those were other times
white liters of tavern,
we went to the sea happy
everyone singing in joy;
few cars on the road,
everyone in line for the tram,
ring around the post-war
everyone down on the ground.

Times of little fortune,
but of adventure,
childhood times
so good and cute.

How was my life back then (down in the courtyards)
what did I have that I don't have anymore (other thoughts)
evenings walking around the city (there in the neighborhoods)
what was it, who knows the year 2000 seen from there
a shack in an amusement park
a spaceship in Cinecittà.

Those were other times
a thousand contests on Rai,
of good feelings,
wheat in the piggy banks;
records, but for the summer,
love, but with jealousy,
the factories, the chimneys
and then the music player.

Kite times
there in the gardens
childhood times
so good and cute;
what was my future back then (night schools)
the bike against a wall (distant looks)
what was my destiny (like trains)
what was it, who knows the year 2000 seen from there
it was a game, an absurdity
to think about it, we were already running away.

Times (my friends from those times)
of true friends (what will they do, where have they gone)
precarious times (back then we were happy)
smugglers (and now we are all lost);
times (what was I thinking back then)
of big scams (what was I that I'm not now)
of big dreams (and now we are all grown up)
other companions (men now damned, all of us).